Supporting column for partitions



Dec. 4, 1962 A. H. DAHME 3,066,774

SUPPORTING COLUMN FOR PARTITIONS Filed Feb. 13, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I16 84 .94 14% & l

4 /00 Fig. 7 INVENTOR. ya- Allan H Dahme 5 8 64 BY 72/ 84 2 oi-M 90 ATTORNEYS This invention relates to supporting columns for partition walls and the like; and more particularly to supporting columns which include means for receiving and supporting adjustable shelf members.

It is frequently necessary to erect a partition wall in a store, office space, or elsewhere. It is usually desirable to make use of the partition wall for display purposes or to have shelves for books or other supplies provided thereon. Most partition walls, of simple and inexpensive construction, are not suitable for supporting additional structure. As a consequence more permanent wall part tions are usually required initially, or at a later time as a replacement for the temporary partition wall.

Bother the inexpensive temporary partition wall and the more expensive permanent wall structure usually have the vertical wall supporting columns hidden and obscured from view by the wall forming members. Whenever shelves are required to be added to these walls it is necessary to find the supporting columns. The shelves are usually required to be permanently secured to the wall structure in order to receive adequate support. Adjustable shelf support are required tobe secured to the face of the wall structure and are neither adequately supported nor particularly pleasing in appearance.

It is here proposed that a more stable, esthetic, and useful partition wall structure be provided. The partition wall proposed is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, fabricate and erect. The supporting columns are adapted to cooperatively receive the wall forming members in engagement therewith and to leave a part of the column exposed to readily receive shelf supporting brackets or the like. The wall supporting columns are also adaptable for use with island display counters and the like, as will be described.

in the preferred embodiment of this invention, as hereinafter described, a supporting column for partition walls is provided which includes a fabricated tubular memher. The tubular member provides structural support for the wall and is formed to receive the edges of the wall forming members in engagement therewith. The wall members received inside of the outer face of the supporting column and have their edges engaged thereto. The wall members may be of perforated or peg-board construction if desired.

A part of the supporting column is exposed on each side of the partition wall. The exposed part of the sup porting columns includes a recessed channel groove extending the height of the wall. A plurality of apertures or slots are provided within the groove to receive adjustable shelf supporting brackets. The depth of the recessed channel groove causes it to be obscured from view and also assures a more stable and secure support for the shelf brackets.

The support column are readily adapted for use in making display counters. Short lengths of the support columns may be used as stanchions for island display brats l aent 3,%ii,?ld Fatenteol Dec. 4, 1982 counters and may be adapted to include shelves and perforated wall board.

These and other advantages of this invention will be more apparent in the description which follows.

in the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a partition wall including the support columns of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view through a partition wall including the disclosed support column.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of a modification or" the support column of this invention.

PEG. 4 is a perspective view of the disclosed support columns as adapted for use in a display counter.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the display counter columnar support.

PEG. 6 is a front face view of the column this invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional View of a part umnar sup-port used with the display counter The supporting columns 10 are shown in FIG. 1 as used in forming partition wall T2. The supporting columns in? are seen to include a channel recess 14 within the exposed face thereof and to have oppositely extended flanges i6 and TS behind which the wall board members 2i are received. The wall supporting members are $6- cured by angle brackets 22 and 2-4- to runners 26 and 23, respectively. The runners 2.6 and 28 are in turn secured to the floor and ceiling of the room within which the partition wall 12 is being provided. Other angle brackets Fail are secured to the supporting column to receive horizontal braces 32, as required.

The upper runner member 28 need not be secured to a ceiling member if the partition wall is not to be of full height. Only the ends or parts of the runner member need be secured to the ceiling if desired. Also, the number of horizontal braces 32 provided is a matter of choice and is dependent upon how sturdy a wall is desired. The wall board members 2:9 are readily removable, as will be seen, and consequently more horizontal braces may be added at a later time, if desired.

The pa tition wall shown by HG. 1 has a. ceiling molding 34- and floor molding 36 which cover the runners 26 an 23 and overlap the wall board members 20.

The details of the particular supporting column lltl are best shown by FIG. 2. The supporting column includes a pair of channel shaped members 33; and 49. The side walls 4-2 and 44, and the interconnecting web 46, form the channel recess 14. Each of the channel shaped members 38 and ll? have the side walls '42 and 44 formed transversely and extended in opposite directions from the recess lid to provide the flanges l6 and 18. Plate members l8 and 5% provide connecting web members between the adjacent and coplanar side walls 42 and 44 of the spaced channel shaped members 38 and ll]. The edges of the connecting members 43 and Sil are engaged with the flanges l6 and id and thereby define the spaced relation of the channel shaped members 38 and 49.

A closed tubular space 52 is provided between the plate members 4% and Sit, as engaged with the channel recess forming members 38 and The resulting tubular cross section is more structurally sound and the space 52 is readily adaptable for electrical lines if desired.

The supporting column shown by FIGS. 1 and 2 includes several spring clip members 5 which are secured Support of of the colof FIG. 4.

nosey/'74 to the closing plate or web members 43 and 5%. These clip members 5% have their ends as and 58 formed transversely of the web members and and disposed in spaced relation to the flanges l6 and 15 of the channel sectioned members and 3 This provides the space within which the edges of the wall board members 2% are received.

The dotted lines shown in FlG. 2 show how the spring clip arm 53 may be bent to the position 53 to retain a thin wall board member 2%.

The wall board members Eli are engaged between the flanges 16 or 13 and the spring clip ends as or of one of the support columns ll), and are bored slightly and inserted within the space provided between the flanges and spring clips of the next adjacent support column. A single or double wall may be provided, as desired. Insulation may be provided between the double wall if required.

The partition wall, as erected, has only the narrow flanges l6 and 18 and the channel recess 14 of the columnar supports it? exposed. The channel recess 14 provides the means for supporting adjustable shelves (not shown) to the partition wall. This feature will be described in regard to the display counter so of PEG. 4, which makes use of the same type of vertical wall supporting members as just described.

The island display counter so, of HG. 4, includes a base stand 62 having a drawer chest or elevated counter section 64 on one side thereof. A lower shelf or platform member as is provided on the other side of t. e base stand 62. Supporting columns 70 are mounted on the display counter 6% in spaced relation to each other. These columns are made in accord with the tea .iings of this invention and are adapted to support a vertical wall member, in this instance the perforated wall board panel 72, and several shelves '74, 7d and 78.

The details of support "ill are shown in FIGS. 3, 5, 6 and 7. This particular support is a modification of the support 149 described in regard to the partition wall 12 of FIG. 1.

The modified columnar support 7h is formed with channel sectioned members 133 and Mil, corresponding to members 38 and 4th of the other structure. Members 138 and 14% include the transverse flanges H6 and li corresponding to flanges l6 and 18 of the other support. The recess 114 is similar to recess 14 in the other support. The support 7d differs in having members and 82 secured between the channel. section members and 140, in place of the plate or web members 43 and 5-1 of the other structure.

The members 84 and 32 are shown to include a cross sectional shape which provides shoulder portions 3 and 36 in spaced relation to the flanges 116 and llil of the channel recessed members 133 and 146;. The shoulder portions 84 and 86 correspond to the ends 56 and 53 of the spring clips 54 of the other structure. A closed tubular structure is provided by members St and 52 and the space 83 thereof corresponds to, but is larger than, the space 52 of the other structure. Thus it is apparent that the members 8d and 32 which connect the channel recessed members 138 and Mil together serve the same functions as the closure plates 4-8 and 5t? and the spring clips 54 of the columnar members of FIGS. 1 and 2.

The shelf supporting members 7t? are shown by FIGS. 4 and 5 to have a part cut-away from the face thereof that is received against the back 9% of the drawer chest 64. This enables the upper ends of the supports to rest on the counter top 92 of the drawer chest. The cut-away side of the supports is closed by a closure member 9 as shown in FIG. 7. Angle brackets 96 and 98 are secured to the closure member 94 near the lower and upper ends of the cut-away part of the shelf supporting members. These brackets are secured to the underside of the platform 66 and counter top 92 and are hidden from view, as shown in FIG. 4.

Both the partition wall supporting columns of FIGS.

l and 2, and the display counter supports of FIGS. 37 are adapted to receive and support shelf members at adjustable positions thereon. The channel sectioned me. e bers $3 and 4-0 of supports and the corresponding 5 members 138 and l st of supports 7%. each include a plurality of successive apertures or slots ltt, formed through the channel web thereof. Such apertures 363' are best shown by FIG. 6, as formed in the supp *ts 79.

The actual shelf brackets which are enga ed within the receiving apertures are not disclosed. Such bracnets do not directly form a part of this invention and they are considered sufiiciently well'known that their manner of cooperation and adjustment will be understood without specific illustration.

The columnar supports lit and '79 which have been herein disclosed are of closed tubular construction for added structural strength. The channel shape of members 38,

13S and ldtl serve as additional strengthening members. The form of the connecting web members 85 and S2 of supports Til also provides greater structural streng in both supports l5} and re the tubular construction lS formed from a minimum of parts which are adapted to also serve other purposes. The basic member of the disclosed supports is the channel recessed members which also serve as shelf receiving columnar members. Both of the supports 14 and '74 are symmetrical and therefore require fewer different parts. This also makes a more versatile support member. The shelf supporting part of each support is hidden or obscured within the channel recesses 14 or 114 and is deep within the srpport for better distribution of the weight of the shelf and anything supported thereon.

While a preferred embodiment and a modification of this invention has been described it will be understood that other modifications and improvements may be made thereto. Such of these modifications and improvements as incorporate the principles of this invention are to be considered as included in the hereinafter appended claims unless these claims by their language expressly state other wise.

I claim:

1. A support column for vertical wall members and the like, said support column comprising; a pair of channel shaped members disposed in parallel spaced relation and having the connecting webs thereof disposed in back-toback relation, transversely disposed flat flanges provided on the free ends of the side walls of said channel shaped members, and parallel spaced members connected to said channel member side walls, said spaced members including a resilient shoulder portion provided thereon and disposed in parallel spaced relation to said flanges, and end portions extending parallel to and adjacent said side walls of said channel-shaped members on the outside thereof, said end portions being fixed to said side walls; said members forming a closed tubular column therebetween and said flanges and resilient shoulder portions being spaced to receive wall forming members therebetween.

2. A vertical wall supporting member, comprising: parallel spaced channel sectioned members having connecting webs secured therebetween and forming a closed tubular column therewith, said channel sectioned members having the open sides thereof disposed outwardly, tranversely disposed flanges extended from the side walls of said channel sectioned members near the open side thereof, and spring clips secured to said connecting webs and having the ends thereof disposed in spaced relation to said transversely disposed flanges for receiving a wall board member therebetween.

3. A vertical wall and horizontal shelf supporting mem her for use with display counters and the like, and comprising: a pair of parallel spaced channel sectioned members having the open sides thereof oppositely disposed and connecting web members secured between the coplanar side walls thereof, said channel sectioned members and connecting web members forming a closed tubular column therebetween, said channel sectioned members having transversely disposed flanges formed from the side walls thereof adjacent the open faces thereof, said connecting webs including resilient shoulder portions spaced from said flanges for providing a wall board receiving space therebetween, a succession of adjustable shelf bracket receiving accesses formed within said channel sectioned members, one of said pair of channel sectioned members being longer than the other thereof, and a closure member received and secured between said connecting webs for providing a closed tubular column with said other channel sectioned member and an end face readily securable to a vertically disposed supporting wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hormes Aug. 19, 1944 Vanderveld et al June 23, 1953 Brinker et a1 June 24, 1958 McLean Oct. 20, 1959 Zimmerla Aug. 29, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS Australia Feb. 27, 1952 

